"I'm ready to fuck up some demons!"
Ryan spoke to his friends through his headset's microphone.
He adjusted himself in his chair and turned on Pandemonium. A third-person RPG demon-slaying game where the player moved between Terra and Pandemonium to kill demons.
What was the purpose of the game?
Reach the Demon King, kill him, and then grind for the most badass and best-looking items in the game!
Honestly, killing the Demon King could be done in a few hours. It was the sensation of being overpowered, dominating every battlefield, that was the addicting element. Looking badass along the way was a bonus.
His character, a Knight, was made to resemble him, though that didn't really matter once fully geared like most of these games.
His armor?
Pitch black. The helmet had narrow slits that hid the character's features with a red cape running down the back. When his skills activated, the golden-red veins of Pandemonium laced through his armor and glowed with life. And his sword? Black with runes etched down the middle and whenever it struck an enemy, the runes shone crimson.
It was always fun to watch the animations for decapitation and mutilation. The designers had put in extra work to show the carnage. Eyeballs flying, tendons snapping, blood, organs, everything. That was, of course, as long as he didn't activate any skills and solely activated basic attacks. Otherwise his screen would turn into a red mist.
His favorite was when the character grabbed a demon's head, slammed it into the ground, and stomped on it. Classic. Always awesome.
Anyway…
The Knight, what he was currently playing, was a Holy Knight. The class had skills like Divine Heal, Holy Blade, and various aura abilities.
There were three classes total.
Wizard, Knight, and Artificer.
He had maxed out all three.
Knight was the least interesting when it came to builds, but it had the best 'turn-off-your-brain and fuck up demons' feel, in his opinion.
Wizard was the most overpowered with massive AoE attacks. Ryan had messed this class up multiple times, though, trying to be a jack-of-all-trades instead of specializing in one or two elements.
Artificer was fun if he wanted to kill demons in weird and intricate ways. Slow and the least effective but the most… interesting. It was the closest to what a normal person would be if all they had were books and little brawn or magic.
Still, Artificer didn't feel as cool as exploding demons or hacking them to pieces. So…
"Where are you?" Ryan asked, wandering the first Pandemonium pit of weak demons, punching holes through them or stomping on them idly.
"Sorry man," his friend said. "Girlfriend wants to watch a movie. Raincheck?"
"'Movie' movie or just a movie?"
His friend chuckled. "The first."
"Traitor."
They both chuckled before Ryan continued, "Well, see you tomorrow at work!"
"Thanks! See you there!"
Bleep-bloop.
The voice call ended.
Ryan sighed. His character idly swung its blade, Achlys, through the air, as if reflecting his current mood.
-------
Name: Lucian
Class: Knight
Level: 100 (max)
Stats:
Vitality: 100
Strength: 100
Charisma: 100
Speed: 50 (Class Restricted)
Perception: 50 (Class Restricted)
Magic: 30 (Class Restricted)
Intelligence: 30 (Class Restricted)
Luck: 30
------
Fuckidy fuck fuck, Ryan grumbled internally as he teleported his character to the level of Greed.
Limbo -> Greed -> Wrath.
The three layers of this world's hell with Wrath housing the Demon King. The level of Greed, as the name suggested, held the best loot. It also contained the strongest monsters, many of which were stronger than the Demon King himself.
A few hours passed and Ryan collected three golden-red veins from slaying Wyrms.
The Veins of Pandemonium were simple.
From weakest to strongest:
Blue -> Red -> Gold.
Veins could be intertwined for increased effects, such as Blue/Red or Red/Gold. Gold and Blue could be combined as well but it wasn't worth it.
Eventually, the late hours of the night crept in and Ryan called it quits.
He shut off his PC and lay down, already knowing he'd be dead at work the next day.
------
~Meanwhile, on Terra~
A white carriage bearing the Imperial Crest rolled down the Imperial Highway of the Sanctus Empire. The crest depicted two griffons flanking a sun, its golden rays dripping into an overflowing chalice.
Inside the carriage, the Imperial Princess maintained perfect posture despite the uncomfortable ride. She read a large grimoire detailing summoned Champions. Silver hair framed her pale features, jade eyes scanning the pages with focus, a sharp contrast to the red hair and fair complexions common among the rest of the Imperial Family.
"We will arrive at the Imperial Capital shortly, Your Highness," her maid said softly. "Are you looking forward to it?"
Her lifelong attendant, Rachel, a brown-haired woman with gentle features dressed in a traditional black-and-white maid's uniform, kept her hands folded neatly as she spoke.
"Astra," the princess replied without looking up. "We are alone. There is no need for formality here. Especially not once we enter Aurelium Academy."
Rachel allowed herself a small smile. "Then, Lady Astra… are you looking forward to it?"
"No."
Rachel blinked. "Ah… I see."
Outside the carriage rode a single novice knight. For any member of the Imperial Family, a full escort of hand-picked veterans would normally have accompanied such a journey.
"I expect it to be dull," Astra continued, finally closing the grimoire. "No, I hope it will be dull."
"Why is that, my lady?" Rachel asked gently.
Before Astra could answer, a wet, gurgling cry rang out from outside the carriage, followed by a violent jolt as the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
Rachel gasped, gripping the interior brace for support before cautiously peering through the window. Her face drained of color.
Astra felt her hands tremble but her expression remained composed. She rose slowly, smoothing the folds of her white academy uniform.
"Because dull is safe," she said quietly. "And excitement is..."
She opened the carriage door.
A dead knight lay sprawled on the road and his horse collapsed beside him. Encircling them stood over a dozen robed figures.
Not bandits, Astra realized at once. Their posture was disciplined, their movements measured, their blades far too well-maintained.
Maintaining Imperial composure, she descended the carriage steps onto the gravel road and drew her imperial sword.
"Third Princess Astra Sanctus," a man stepped forward, his blade stained with blood. Broad-shouldered and composed, he bowed his head. "We offer our apologies."
"Do not," Astra replied evenly, steadying her breath. "You are merely carrying out your orders."
Silence followed, broken only by Rachel's restrained whimper from inside the carriage.
"Out of respect for your composure," the knight continued, his gaze flicking briefly to Astra's drawn blade, "and for the failure of those sworn to protect you, I will grant you the opportunity to summon a Champion in your defense."
"That concession directly contradicts the order to take my life," Astra replied cautiously.
The knight gave a low, humorless chuckle. "Then shall I withdraw the offer?"
"No," Astra said at once. She drove the tip of her sword into the stone road and straightened. "I accept. And I thank you for it."
Forming a pact with a Champion was ordinarily conducted within a prepared summoning chamber. The ritual required precise alignment of body, mind, and magic. Without a summoning circle, the mana expenditure required would be extraordinary to summon a Champion capable of facing trained knights, let alone another Champion.
Yet she had no alternative.
Closing her eyes, Astra extended her hand.
A glyphic summoning circle ignited between her and the knight, runes and sigils spinning in opposing directions while remaining perfectly synchronized.
From the carriage, small brown red-rimmed eyes peered out with desperate hope in her Highness.
The knight's grip tightened as the radiance intensified.
And from the earth rose...
A Black Knight with the Veins of Pandemonium coursing through his form.